The book of Luke tells of a time when some Pharisees asked Jesus to come and dine with them. Their motives were to try to catch Him saying something that they could accuse Him of. Before long there was a huge crowd gathered. In the Lord's speech to them He revealed their hearts - their hypocrisy. He told them that, "...there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known."
I often tell my children that what people think of us (our reputation) is not necessarily who we really are. Who we really are, is who we are at home. That's where is all begins. That's where the hypocrisy shows up! I have had many women say to me, "Oh Mindy, you are just so sweet, I can't see you ever getting angry with your children." This always makes me laugh! :) I tell them to go talk to my children!
While none of us is perfect, I do feel strongly that, as Christians, we should be able to live in glass houses. We should be living by God's Word with the fruit of our works showing in our daily lives, not just on Sunday or when we are around other people.
It is becoming increasingly easy to hide from people these days. With all the technology we have, we can work from home, screen our calls, and then use the Internet to write about how great we are. Who really knows what our lives are like? Obviously God knows. He is the only One who knows our hearts and sees who we really are. He is the only One watching all the time. Do we live for Him?
There are many things I love about my husband, but one of his greatest qualities is that he is not a fake. He is who he is, no matter who he is around. He doesn't pretend for anyone. I remember in the early years of our marriage, I didn't appreciate this quality so much. I was always the one to want to "jump on the bandwagon", "join the crowd", "look the part", or obtain some "image". He always resisted such ideas. It used to make me so mad, but now I see the wisdom in it.
The truth is that as much as we may try to pretend that we are a certain way, the truth will be made known. The truth always prevails. Furthermore, we will reap what we have sown. God is watching.
2 Chronicles 16:9
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him."
1 comment:
God gives us our four walls and our skull as a boundary. His grace is sufficient. He allows me to rest and be real at home. Being real means not judging another person's heart and letting the Holy Spirit be his or her guide and God. Buzzy
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